Frequently Asked Questions When Buying A Racquet

WHICH IS THE BEST RACQUET?

We get that question a lot, and the answer is very simple. There is no one perfect racquet for everybody; each manufacturer offers 10 to 20 models to meet the specific needs of different kinds of players. The most common mistake people make is to buy a racquet because it is the newest and most expensive one or because a professional player uses it. While it might be a good racquet, the real question is: Is it suited for your style of play?

SHOULD I PLAY WITH MIDPLUS OR OVERSIZE?

Head size is a personable choice, but there are some guidelines. Oversize offers a bigger sweet spot and therefore a greater margin for forgiveness, which is helpful if you are a beginner or a low-intermediate player. High-intermediate and advanced players typically prefer midplus due to its maneuverability and control. Then again, Andre Agassi and Serena Williams play with oversized racquets, and they are anything but beginners.

WHAT IS MY GRIP SIZE?

While holding the racquet in an eastern forehand grip, you should be able to snuggly fit the index finger of your non-gripping hand in the space between your ring finger and palm. This is the most popular way of determining proper grip size, but there are some other things to consider. If you are a player who uses a lot of wrist movement in your strokes, a smaller grip will give you more freedom to do that. This is why racquets for racquetball, badminton, and squash have a much smaller grip size than a tennis racquet. But keep in mind that too small of a grip is more likely to cause the racquet to twist during off-center hits. If you are between two grip sizes, go with the smaller size; you can build it up with an overgrip or a heat shrink sleeve. A big grip is sometimes impossible to reduce, especially in some of the new super-lightweight racquets.

SHOULDN'T I BUY THE LIGHTEST RACQUET AVAILABLE?

Even though lightweight racquets feel great to swing at the store and they grab people’s attention, you should play with the heaviest racquet you are able to handle comfortably for an entire match.

WHAT'S THE ADVANTAGE OF A LONGER RACQUET?

A longer racquet gives you more reach and power, while a standard-length racquet (27 inches) is more maneuverable and easier to control. You can test this by aiming a ball toward any target you chose, first swinging the racquet with your hand close to the throat, then with your hand at the end of the butt cap. You should have more control when your hand is closer to the hitting zone of the racquet.